Aswan’s Temple of Isis restoration completed, ready for reopening soon

Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities has completed the restoration and development of the Temple of Isis in Aswan, in preparation for its re-opening soon.

Mostafa Waziri, Secretary–General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, said that the restoration works included restoring floors and columns, cleaning walls, and placing wire windows to prevent the entry of birds, in addition to restoring and cleaning the inscriptions at the entrance to the Holy of Holies, and removing the soot on its ceiling.

In addition, the drawings on the temple’s entrance and side doors were also cleaned, and the offering tables in the Column Hall were maintained.

Ayman Ashmawy, Head of the Egyptian Antiquities Sector at the Supreme Council of Antiquities, indicated that the site development included determining the touring path of visitors inside the temple, and developing and installing a modern lighting system to show the unique aesthetic aspects of the temple without harming it.

Director General of Aswan and Nubia Antiquities, Abdel Moneim Saeed, said that the Supreme Council of Antiquities discovered small pottery vessels buried under beneath the temple.

Isis temple is one of the most important ancient places in Egypt. Located on the island of Philae in the middle of the Nile, the temple tells the story of Isis, Osiris, and Horus.

Isis Temple was discovered in 1871. King Ptolemy III built it to worship the goddess Isis and the triad of Aswan, but its construction was not completed. It was built of sandstone and has two doors. The main door is crowned with an ornament topped by the winged sun disk. It leads to a hall and three rooms. Scenes of ceremonial offerings were engraved on the walls of the temple’s Holy of Holies.